tennis, life and a few things in between

Mainly worked on my volley and swing volley this morning; then on my toss, trying to turn my left hand inward after the ball is in the air. Not sure what it will do, but the tray is forever there.

Some opinions: it’s an inefficient, pushing motion (like holding a tray) instead of a powerful, upward “throwing” motion with pronation, limiting spin, power, consistency, and placement control, and capping a player’s potential for advanced development by keeping the racket face open too early, preventing proper racket drop and internal shoulder rotation.

… a few videos

• volleys
• slow mo volleys
• backhand swing volley
• two serves
• tossing + tray

More and more, I like double-handed backhand more than fore: both hands give me more comfort, reliability and power.

Over all, I still take the ball when it’s on its way down. Everyone says should take it when it’s on its way up.

Also some volleys.

• 1 slow mo at the end: taking the ball on its way down
• 3 serves
• slow mo volleys
• forehand volleys

… Keeping both arms too close to the body during a double-handed backhand—often called “jamming” or the “chicken wing” effect—is detrimental to performance because it severely restricts power, control, and range of motion. This technical error often results from poor spacing, where the player is too close to the ball …

Ok the new year, the new game …

• a few good forehands
• slow mo, fore & back
• forehand & backhand, slow mo
• volleys

Lost again 6,1 & 4 with the Fab4 group.

Thought my serve was very good but not good enough to win a set.

1. w/ Cheri 6-6
2. w/ Sandi 1–6
3. w/ Tammy 4-6

Many long rallies. The first set, Cheri served at 5-4 but unable to close. After I won  6-6, they decided to quit, switch partners.

Foggy fog; spider web

In WeChat
Lost again 6,1 & 4
with the Fab4 group. Thought my serve was very good but not good enough to win a set.
又输了
第一局 6:6 时她们决定停 换搭档
很多长时间的拉锯战. 离开的球场就开始一瘸一拐的
这是👇他们心目中的老太婆. 缺点儿杀气 [呲牙]
今天听了两遍黄河钢琴协奏曲 好久没听了
今天自己在油管里跳出来
第二遍再听是输了以后 —- 心里万马奔腾 🐎开玩笑
看到一些朋友贴了韶山的视频 想起今天是毛主席的生日

Blue skies on this Christmas Eve. The morning air is 55°, the water 81°, steam curling up from the swimming pool.

12.26

I warmed up quickly in the water, then headed to the court for battle.

After the match, I went to the pool to stretch and saw this group of birds in the sky: American white Pelicans (Turkey Vultures over Benchmark Int’l a few days later), and as if they’re in formation.

At court, it was a wonderful match, full of rallies and laughter—despite losing all three sets:

~ w/ Tammy, 4-6
~ w/ Sandi, 3-6
~ w/ Cheri, 3-6

A few videos show that I play softly and have fewer correct forms than during the practices:

~ warming up: forehand
~ the first game
~ the 2nd game
~ the 3rd game
~ where’s 4th game?
~ the 5th – a long game

https://youtu.be/C_8-lhUo_ko

Coach comes in and asks, what am I working on w/ the Slinger. I said “oh, my forehand and backhand, and serve … ” He then offers me a few pointers / tips for my forehand:

• face the opponent
• left leg moves infront
• butt of the racket faces the ball
• right leg only pivot
• racket faces ground kind of swing
• at contact the face of the racket is
  • slightly downward: top spin
  • 90° – flat
  • light facing up: defense, high

Think I’ll remember them all?

Today’s Slinger I practiced hitting forehands n backhands with a relatively straight arm, as extended as possible. I’m still getting used to it.

• forehands
• backhands
• lost my sreve but made many swing volleys
• coach serves

I played well. Nearly all my forehand deep shots were in: Slinger helps.

It’s an esay win with the same gang, except this time is with Matt, vs Sandi and Joel. I’ve two doubles; the third set one game is on me: I failed to hold serve.

Talking about serve!

The left one is my wish … but once the ball is involved, I do the right one – the reality!

^{← dream v reality →} 

I’m not sure if the left one is textbook right, but I like the look of it. Oh well, continue trying.

6-1, 6-0 and 6-1 第三局的1 是我输的[捂脸]

Ok dream and reality
1️⃣2️⃣ 是模拟 感觉好
3️⃣4️⃣ 是现实 好骨干

找个木板把手腕钉死不知有没有用[偷笑]

The more lessons and clinics I take, the more appreciation I’ve for the machine.

My forehand pulling back looks too high; the finish looks the same.

Today, I practice the fundmental strokes, forehand and backhand; also overheads.

• groundstrokes (mostly backhand & forehand)
• groundstrokes (mostly forehand & backhand)
• an overhead
• two big birds: herons fly by
• a better forehand? right leg moves foreward
• a better serve?
• swing volleys

Overhead is one of many strokes of tennis. I lob more than hit the overheads. My success rate is a mere 50%, which is why I don’t like to hit it. I usually lob back.